Mute means for string musical instruments



L. 0P. ALLERS 3,015,247

MUTE MEANS FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1962 Filed April 20, 1960 INVENTOR.

Z on FAV/e/s Y ATTORNEY a yj Jan. 2, 1962 L. P. ALLERS MUTE MEANS FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed April 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a. U?!" /4 7 1 16: f /4xg\:;/7 A5 2 7; j] 5... $5

INVENTOR. Aer/7 2 /l//er5 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,015,247 MUTE MEANS FOR STRING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Larry P. Allen-s, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Gibson, Inc, Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Apr. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 23,411

Claims. (Cl. 84-273) 7 This invention relates to musical instruments of the string type and mute means therefor. The principal jects of this invention are:

First, to provide a musical instrument of the string type with mute means operated by a single stroke actuating means disposed adjacent the inner end of the instrument body.

Second, to provide a musical instrument of the plucked string type having a combined bridge and tailpiece and a mute means disposed forwardly thereof but adjacent thereto and which may be operated from the rear of said combined bridge and tailpiece.

Third, to provide a mute means for a stringed musical instrument having these advantages which is inconspicuous and which does not interfere with the playing manipulation oftheinstrument.

Fourth, to provide a mute device which does not require special skill in its manipulation.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention'will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an instrument of the plucked string type embodying my invention with certain of the parts shown conventionally.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating the combined bridge and tailpiece and the mute in their operative relation to each other.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 44 of PEG. 2 with the mute in retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a corresponding fragmentary view with the mute in actuated position.

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary view partially in transverse section in a line corresponding to line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section on a line corresponding to lines 7-7 of FIGS. 2 and 4.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is of the plucked string type but it should be understood that the body 1 may widely vary in design and structure. The neck 2 is conventionally shown and the adjusting means for the strings 3 are not illustrated and they may be of the conventional type. The combined bridge and tailpiece 4 is spaced forwardly of the inner end of the body and is supportedly mounted thereon in vertically spaced relation thereto by the threaded posts 5 having threaded engagement with the sockets 6 seated in the instrument body, see FIG. 6. A combined bridge and tailpiece mounted in substantially the same way is disclosed in patent to McCarty, No. 2,714,326 issued August 2, 1955.

The mute member, in the embodiment illustrated, comprising the body member 7 of upward channel section and the resilient fibrous facing 8 therein is disposed below the strings in transverse relation thereto at the front of and closely adjacent the combined bridge and tailpiece 4. This mute member is supported for vertical adjustment on the posts 9 which are disposed through holes 18 provided therefor. The springs 11 on the posts act to urge the mute downwardly or in string non contacting position. The posts h are mounted on the base plate 12, the forward end of which projects beyond the bridge 3,015,247 Patented Jan. 2, 1962 and tailpiece as is illustrated and it is provided with a slideway 13 desirably of non-metallic material as is indicated in the drawing and having downwardly facing shoulders with which the edges of the slot 14 in the actuating member llS are slidably and frictionally engaged. This actuating member has an upturned or in clined cam, portion 16 projecting forwardly of the mute member, as is best illustrated in FlGS. 4 and 5. The actuating member is provided with an upwardly projecting finger piece 17 disposed at the rear or at the inner side of the combined bridge and tailpiece member. To actuate the mute to operative position, it is only necessary to give the actuating member a thrust or pull towards the inner end of the body member as is illustrated in FIG. 5 and to release the mute it is only necessary to give it a thrust in the opposite direction as viewed in FIG. 4.

This mute device can be readily installed in instruments of the type such as shown in the McCarty Patent No. 2,714,326 referred to. The combined bridge and tailpiece of the present invention, however, differs in structural details from the combined bridge and tailpiece therein illustrated.

The mute of my invention may be very economically produced and it may be readily installed, the base plate being secured to the body of the instrument by the screws 18. Buffers 19 are provided at the bases of the posts 9 so that there is no clicking sound resulting from the retracting movement of the mute or in its'actuation.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is provided with a hand rest 20 which, however, forms no part of my present invention but is referred to inasmuch as it is illustrated.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not illustrated various other embodiments or adaptations of which it is capable to adapt it to a particular instrument or design as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a body and strings, a combined bridge and tail member supportedly mounted on said body in vertically spaced relation thereto and forwardly'spaced from its inner end, a mute base plate mounted on said body and having a portion thereof disposed below said bridge and tailpiece and having a slideway thereon and a portion projecting forwardly of said bridge and tailpiece, a mute member of upwardly facing channel section having a springably resilient facing therein disposed below and transversely of the strings and supportedly mounted on said base plate for vertical reciprocating adjustment at the front of and adjacent to said bridge and tailpiece, and an actuating member for said mute member slidably adjustable on said base plate and having a longitudinal slot therein coacting with said slideway on said base plate for frictionally retaining said actuating member in its adjusted positions, said actuating member having an upwardly projecting cam at its forward end coacting with said mute member and an upwardly projecting finger piece disposed rearwardly of said bridge and tailpiece member.

2. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a body and strings, a combined bridge and tail member supportedly mounted on said body in vertically spaced relation thereto and forwardly spaced from its inner end, a mute base plate mounted on said body and having a portion thereof disposed below said bridge and tailpiece and having a slideway thereon and a portion projecting forwardly of said bridge and tailpiece, a

' adjustable on. said base plate and having a longitudinal slot therein coacting 'with said slideway on said base plate for frictionally retaining said actuating 'member in its adjusted positions. s

3. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a body and strings, a com'bined bridge and tail member supportedly mounted on said body in vertically spaced relation thereto, a mute base plate mounted on said body, and having a portion thereof disposed below said bridge and tailpiece and having a slideway thereon and a. portion projecting forwardly of said bridge and tailpiece, a spring biased mute member disposed below andtransversely of thestrings and supportedly mounted on said base plate for vertical reciprocating adjustment at the front of said bridge and tail member and an actuating member for said mute member slidably adjustable on said base plate mounted on said slideway, said actuating member having an upwardly projecting portion at its forward end coacting with said mute member and a finger piece engageable rearwardly of said bridge and tailpiece member.

4. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a body and strings, a bridge member supportedly mounted on said body in vertically spaced relation thereto, a mute base plate mounted on said body, and having a portion thereof disposed below said bridge and 4 having a slideway thereon and a portion projecting forwardly of said bridge, a spring biased mute member disposed below and transversely of the strings and supportedly mounted on said base plate for vertical reciprocating adjustment at the front of said bridge member and an actuating member for. said mute member slidably-adjustable on said base plate mounted on said slideway, said actuating member having a finger piece engageable rearwardly of said bridge member.

5. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a body and strings, a bridge member supportedly mounted on said body in vertically spaced relation thereto, a base'plate mounted on saidbody and having a portion disposed between the top of, the body and the.

bottom of the bridge member with a slideway on said- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,108 'Brown Sept. 22, 1896 2,238,241 Abrams Apr. 15, 1941,

FOREIGN PATENTS 12,058 Norway July 13, 1903 597,093

GreatBritain J an. 19, 1948 

